FAQs

Is Whitehead part of MIT?

No. Whitehead Members hold joint appointments at MIT, where they are professors in the department of biology. Many MIT students work in Whitehead labs as research assistants. However, Whitehead is wholly independent in its governance, finance, and research programs.

What is the connection between Whitehead Institute and Broad Institute?

In November 2003, Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research became the cornerstone of the Broad Institute, a new research collaboration among Whitehead Institute, MIT and Harvard University and its affiliated hospitals. For more information, see the Broad Institute's web site.

Does the Whitehead conduct clinical or therapeutic trials?

No. The Institute is not designed to conduct drug or clinical trials of any kind, nor are experimental treatments available. That work is done by other institutions that take advantage of research advances at Whitehead.

What kind of educational opportunities does Whitehead offer for high school teachers?

The Institute provides a series of monthly lecture series and partners teachers with young Whitehead researchers. For more information, see the Whitehead Seminar Series for High School Teachers.

What educational opportunities does Whitehead offer for high school students?

Whitehead offers a lecture series each spring during the April vacation week. For more information, visit the High School Student Program.

Does Whitehead provide speakers for public events and civic group meetings?

Whitehead faculty and staff often make time available to talk about biomedical research at the Institute. Please contact Communications and Public Affairs, at 617-258-5183 or newsrooom@wi.mit.edu for more information.

How do I apply for the Whitehead Fellows Program?

Candidates cannot apply to become Whitehead Fellows. They must be nominated by leaders in the research community. For more information, visit Whitehead Fellows Program.

Who funds Whitehead Institute?

Whitehead Institute has an annual operating budget of $73 million, about half of which comes from research grants awarded by the federal government. Endowment funds provide the seed money necessary to develop new directions in science to conduct the experiments that will convince others an idea is worth pursuing. The flexibility resulting from these resources has played a central role in Whitehead's development; allowing the Institute to nurture scientific advances that might not have occurred in other settings. The endowment fund totals about $376 million.

Last updated August 20, 2009.